Minister Basile Atangana plans to electrify 10000 rural communities in Cameroon before 2035

Basile Atangana Kouna, Minister of Water and Energy plans to electrify up to 10,000 rural communities in Cameroon under the Rural Electrification Program of Cameroon.

According to the Minister, the Rural Electrification Program which falls within the framework of the strategic development plans of the state has as objective to enable almost all Cameroonians to enjoy electricity by 2035.

The electrification program which plans to make use of renewable sources is also aimed at reducing disparities of electrification between urban and rural areas in Cameroon and encouraging the development of productive sectors in in the country as a whole.

Many Cameroonians are worried over the execution which will be supervised by a minister who is yet to clean his records as far as tribalism is concerned. They fear that what happened in the recruitment of 100 candidates in his ministry in February may repeat itself in the execution phase. They say the program which will cost the state about 805 billion frs CFA, has to be equitably distributed throughout the country. 

“I think the government should electrify an average of about 1000 localities in each region for equitability starting with Far North, East, South West and North West Regions” says an Onlooker.

According to Mr. Mumfor Emmanuel, a seasoned Development Economist, electrification is vital but road networks should also be given the same level of importance. He calls on the government to elaborate a Rural Roads Construction Program.

“Government should also elaborate what I will call a Detailed Rural Roads Construction Program and establish an activity timeline to direct the realization of the road projects. Like electricity, a good road network is a significant infrastructure for development.